The Kingdom Of The Happy Land, Inside Appalachia

The setting for a new novel is a communal society founded by freed people in North Carolina. It was a real place called The Kingdom of the Happy Land.

Also, when a West Virginia pastor got assigned to a new church, some folks tried to warn him.

And, the online world of Appalachian memes — and what they tell us about folks who live here. 

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

• The Kingdom Of The Happy Land
• Artists Collaborate On “The Mockingbird”
• The West Virginian Egg Church
• Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs

The Kingdom Of Happy Land

Following the American Civil War, a group of freed people fled violence and bought land in Western North Carolina. In the summer of 1873, these people formed a Black communal society they named “The Kingdom of the Happy Land.” A new novel tells a story set in the kingdom, both in the past and in the present day. It’s titled, Happy Land.

Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Dolen Perkins-Valdez. 

Artists Collaborate On “The Mockingbird”

Knoxville, Tennessee’s Big Ears Festival has become a high-profile platform for regional artists to debut new works. This year’s festival featured the premiere of “The Mockingbird” — a collaboration between composer William Wright and Tennessee writer, musician and playwright R.B. Morris. “The Mockingbird” features Morris reading his poetry while accompanied by an experimental chamber orchestra.

Morris was Knoxville’s first ever poet laureate, and his songs have been recorded by John Prine and Marianne Faithfull.

Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Morris about his collaborations and his ability to capture a sense of place.

The West Virginian Egg Church

Even though Easter has passed, you might still be able to find leftover Easter candy. What you probably won’t find are those big chocolate Easter eggs local churches sell right before the holiday.

One church in West Virginia has become known far and wide for its chocolate eggs. Zack Harold, reporting for the Rural Remix podcast, brought us this story.

Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs 

Appalachian humor is often presented as a throwback. Think: old-timers sitting around telling tall tales. Lots of moonshine jokes. Thing is, there’s plenty of modern mountain humor. It’s on the internet.

Last year, Folkways Reporter Madeline Miller brought us this story about two artists who’ve taken holler humor to the digital realm.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, John Inghram, John Blissard and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Clara Haizlett.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.